Mistake #1 of short-term rental buyers is not verifying whether the building allows the operation — every other mistake either derives from it or pales beside it. Here is the full list of 7, in the order they destroy yield.
The 7 mistakes, from fatal to costly
- Not verifying the building: convention, rules and minutes decide whether your income exists. How to verify.
- Counting on peak-season occupancy all year — use the real average (55–70% in consolidated areas).
- Forgetting costs: cleaning, commission, management, furniture, vacancy. Gross numbers deceive.
- Buying for the apartment, not the demand: location and guest profile pay the bills.
- Ignoring the internal rules: operational restrictions can kill the business in practice.
- Skipping the property paperwork: title, certificates, clearances.
- Trusting a yield promise without documents — demand proof.
The antidote
Reverse the search order: verified building first, then the apartment. That is how the Investemporada catalog is built — due diligence before the listing, seal with source and date.
Frequently asked questions
Which mistake is most common?
Closing without reading the convention and minutes. It is also the costliest: the ban is discovered when the property is already yours.
Is a listing saying "Airbnb allowed" enough?
No. A listing is not a document. Demand verification of the convention and minutes — or buy where it is already done and sealed.
How do I fix it if I bought in the wrong building?
Consider conventional letting (which does not depend on short-stay permission) and, in parallel, the feasibility of approving the topic in an assembly.